CEDAW is the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women.
On 30 March 2023 a motion was approved to declare Cardiff a ‘City for CEDAW’. It was also agreed:
- to provide advice and information through the community Hubs and Libraries across Cardiff to help women and girls to access all benefits to which they are entitled, including a booklet of rights.
- to create a programme of activities, informed by women and girls, to empower and engage women and girls, including a ‘Rights Fest’, ‘Equalities Champions’ and social impactful projects in Cardiff.
- to ensure there are more Safe Spaces throughout Cardiff, involving women and girls in their creation.
- to deliver a strong Violence against Women Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence (VAWDASV) strategy and outcomes to increase the safety of all women and girls in Cardiff.
- to ensure the Cardiff VAWDASV strategy reflects CEDAW and provides clear ambition and deliverables towards ending all forms of violence against women and girls.
- to review our programme of equalities/inclusion training to ensure the principles of CEDAW are highlighted and mainstreamed in and delivered through such training for staff and officers, including front-line staff.
- to put in place measures that ensure our workforce is measurably more representative and inclusive of the communities we serve. This includes strengthening and celebrating the work of our equalities networks.
- to ensure the principles of CEDAW are embedded in all decision-making, with equality impact assessments brought to scrutiny committees, thus fulfilling the public sector equality duty.
- to live by example: to continue to place accountability for abuse on those who cause harm, by challenging and changing the culture of sexism and misogyny, through activities and interventions that address harmful behaviours and promote the elimination of discrimination against women to people of all genders.
- to embed gender-sensitive urban planning in planning policy and urban design as part of the forthcoming Replacement Local Development Plan.
The Council’s Cabinet agreed to bring forward a report with timetabled proposals to achieve the commitments listed above. This will be captured in our forthcoming Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy 2024-28.